Hōjō Tokiyori

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Hōjō Tokiyori (北条時頼; 1227-1263, r. 1246-1256) was the fifth shikken (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan. He was born to Hōjō Tokiuji and a daughter of Adachi Kagemori.

Tokiyori became shikken following his brother Tsunetoki's death. Immediately after the succession, he crushed a coup plot by former shogun Kujō Yoritsune and Tokiyori's relative Nagoe Mitsutoki. In the next year, he let Adachi Kagemori destroy the powerful Miura clan in the Battle of Hochi. He recalled his experienced grandfather's brother Hōjō Shigetoki from Kyoto and appointed him as rensho. In 1252 he replaced Shogun Kujō Yoritsugu with Prince Munetaka. He successfully solidified the power base.

He has been praised for his good administration. He worked on reforms mainly by putting various regulations. He reduced service of the vassals to guard Kyoto. He worked toward resolving increasing land disputes of his vassals. In 1249 he set up the legal system of Hikitsuke or High Court.

In 1252 he started to make policies at private meetings held at his residence instead of discussing at Hyōjō (評定), the council of the shogunate. In 1256 when he became a Buddhist priest, he transferred the position of shikken to Hōjō Nagatoki, a son of Shigetoki while Tokiyori's infant son Tokimune succeeded to become tokusō, the head of the Hōjō clan. Tokiyori continued to rule in fact without any official position. This is considered the beginning of the tokusō dictatorship.

There are a number of legends that Tokiyori traveled incognito throughout Japan to inspect actual conditions and improve their lives. He died in 1263.